Chiavari Castle was built after the convention of perpetual league signed on 1138 between Genoa and Fieschi. The construction started on 1140 and finished probably on 1147. It is one of the first castle erected in the Italian Riviera, over a hill dominating and defending a seafaring village, called Clavai, today Chiavari.
In 1172 the castle was besieged by Opizzone Malaspina, while in 1278 it fell into the hands of Moruello and Alberto Fieschi hands, allied for the conquest of the castle, but just for eight days.
During the first half of the 14th century it was rebuilt several times because of violent battles between the Guelfs and Ghibellines and in that century the village was further fortified by a heavy surrounding wall accessible through seven doors and defended by fourteen towers. Nowadays it is quite easy to see the ruins of the ancient wall of the ancient village of Chiavari.
References:The Church of St Donatus name refers to Donatus of Zadar, who began construction on this church in the 9th century and ended it on the northeastern part of the Roman forum. It is the largest Pre-Romanesque building in Croatia.
The beginning of the building of the church was placed to the second half of the 8th century, and it is supposed to have been completed in the 9th century. The Zadar bishop and diplomat Donat (8th and 9th centuries) is credited with the building of the church. He led the representations of the Dalmatian cities to Constantinople and Charles the Great, which is why this church bears slight resemblance to Charlemagne's court chapels, especially the one in Aachen, and also to the Basilica of San Vitale in Ravenna. It belongs to the Pre-Romanesque architectural period.
The circular church, formerly domed, is 27 m high and is characterised by simplicity and technical primitivism.